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Dubai - Dubai won the 'Destination of the Year' award at the 10th World Health Tourism Congress.
The two day congress was held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre in Dubai Health Care City (DHCC).
Ministers, senior government officials, medical and health experts and other tourism industry stakeholders from more than 80 countries attended the conference.
Dr Ahmed Bin Kalban, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at the DHA received the award and said: "The combined attractiveness of the place and the availability of excellent internationally accredited healthcare services, have led to the growth of medical tourism in Dubai. Today, the Emirate has emerged as a favourable medical tourism destination on the global map. "
Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, Director of Health Regulation and the Medical Tourism Initiative in Dubai added that Dubai's attractiveness as a destination and the availability of high quality medical care are the key drivers of the medical tourism initiative. However, in order to capitalize on these two parameters, the DHA's medical tourism department has carried out extensive research to identify target markets that are best suited for medical tourism. Al Marzouqi, said: "We have studied other medical tourism destinations and have carried out price benchmarking exercises. We then developed the medical tourism strategy which was chalked out after extensive consultation and feedback with key private and government stakeholders. We have also ensured on-going, regular communication with members of the private health sector through the Medical Tourism Club initiative."
Al Marzouqi said that Dubai attracted 260, 000 medical tourists in the first half of 2015 and the revenues generated during this period exceeded one billion dirhams.
Top specialties accessed by medical tourists in Dubai are orthopedics, aesthetics, dental, preventive health and wellness and fertility treatments.
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About the Dubai Health Authority
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the DHA and His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami is the chairman of the board of the DHA.
The DHA's aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA's mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.
In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.
The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff. It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.
Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.
© Press Release 2015
